Signalling system



Feb. 19, 1963 H. F. RIETH 3,077,856

SIGNALLING SYSTEM Filed April 19, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet l 1 4 ILI IHIIHIHII Feb. 19, 1963 RlETH 3,077,856

SIGNALLING SYSTEM Filed April 19, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 irreexz l 4 120@1 L; 110 ME: In u an? H "UUL' Feb. 19, 1963 H. F. RIETH 3,077,856

SIGNALLING SYSTEM United States Patent Oilice Fatenieri Feb. 19, 1&53

ass /ass SirE-NALLENG Harold F. Ricth, Pasadena, (Zalih, assigns]: toPackardliell Electronics Corporation, Los Angeles, Quilt a corporationor Qalit'ornia Filed Apr. 119, was, Ser. No. 23,23

15' tljlaiins. (i1 lid-13?) This invention relates to apparatus forobtaining the transmission of energy to a removed position to produce acontrol etlect at the removed position. The invention particularlyrelates to apparatus for obtaining a transmission of signals on awireless basis from a removed position to a television receiver toprovide con over operation of the receiver such as the particularchannel being viewed at any instant. The invention especially providesrelatively si -e apparatus which in least one vibrator cons noted tovibrate in a longitudinal mode and to transmit signals at a particularfrequency in accordance with such vibrations.

in the operation of certain systems, it is desirable to control theoperation or" the systems from pos- -ons which are limited distancesaway from the systems to be controlled. For example, it may often bedesirable to control the operation of a television receiver on a firstside of a family room from a position on the opposite side of the room.Such a control may be desirable in order to allow the television viewerto change the operation of the receiver without having to approach thereceiver from comfortable seat displaced from the receiver. By way ofillustration, the viewer may desire to change the television channelbeing viewed at any instant or to vary the intensity of the soundemanating from the receiver at that instant.

Systems have been devised for controlling the operation of a televisionreceiver on a remote basis. Such systems use tuning rods which areconstructed to vibrate in a longitudinal mode and to transmit signals inaccordance with the production such vibrations. The vibrations in thetuning rods occur at an ultrasonic frequency so as not to affect thefidelity of the sound produced in the television receiver.

Although the remote control units using such vibrators have providedadequate controls over the operation or" the television receivers, theremote control units have had certaln disadvantages. For example, theremote control units now in use are relatively complicated in theirconstr=v in providing a plurality of springs and other components inassociation with the springs to produce vibrations n the tuning rod. Onespring is required to hold the tuning rod in fixed position; a secondspring is required to displace a striker from the tuning rod upon atensioning oi the second spring and to produce impact between thestriker and the tuning rod upon the release of the to :ion on the secondspring; and a third spring required to return the striker and theassociated members to their initial positions.

By requiring the remote control units now in use to have a plurality ofsprings and a complicated structure in association with the springs toproduce vibrations in a tuning rod, a relatively complex and expensiveconstruction has resuled. Furthermore, since a plurality of springs anda number of members in combination with the springs have had to bemanually operated by the viewer in order to produce vibrations in thetuning rod, a considerable force has had to be manually exerted. Thisforce has been especially burdensome to ladies and to young childrenbecause it has sometimes exceeded the physical capabilities of suchviewers.

Another diificulty has resulted from the use of the spring in holdingthe tuning rod in fixed position to re" ceive the impact of the striker.The use of this spring has required a groove to be formed around theperiphery of the tuning rod so that the spring can be retained withinthe group. Because of the io'ination of the groove in each tuning rod,the frequency of the vibrations in the tuning rod cannot be accuratelypredicted. This has required that complicated procedures be institutedin pro ducing each tuning rod to insure that the frequency of vibrationsin the tuning rod be maintained within the narrow lirnits required forthe tuning rod.

This invention provides a remote control unit which is especiallyadapted for use in conjunction with television receivers and which isconstructed to overcome the disadvantages of the remote control unitsnow in use. The remote control unit constituting this invention usesonly nie ber and without requiring the use of any additional resilientmembers such as springs to return the 1 rst resilient member to therelaxed position.

The remote control unit consti rting this invention uses a minimumnumber of components to produce vibrations in a tuning rod. For example,in one embodiment of the invention, striker is disposed near one end ofa resilient member such as a spring. The spring is fixedly supported atthe other end to produce a pivotal constraint of the spring. The strikerbecomes displaced from the tuning rod upon a pivotal constraint of thespring and becomes moved into impact with the tuning rod upon a releaseof the pivotal constraint on the spring. A control member such as amanually operated knob is disposed a end of the spring to produce apivotal constraint of the spring upon an initial displacement of thecontrol member in a particular direction and to produce a release of thepivotal constraint on the spring upon a further displacement of thecontrol member in the particular direction.

The tuning rod is supported in a novel manner in the remote control unitconstituting the invention. Specifically, the tuning rod is disposed inan opening in a member which may be made from a suitable elasticmaterial. such as sponge rubber. The tuning rod is permanently bonded inthe opening in the elastic member as by glue or by molding the elasticmaterial to the tuning rod. The tuning rod is bonded to the elasticmember along extended lengths around the periphery of the tuning rod. Bysupporting the tuning rod in this manner, the elastic member may beconsidered to provide a proper damping action on the tuning rod so thatthe vibrations in the rod continue for only a proper length of timeafter each impact between the striker and the tuning rod.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of apparatus constituting oneembodiment of this invention and including a tuning rod which isconstructed to obtain a transmission of control signals at a particularfrequency to a remote position, the apparatus shown in FIGURE 1including a housing which is partially broken away to indicatecomponents within the housing in some detail;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the apparatus shown in PEGURE1, the housing for the apparatus being partially broken away to show theelements within the housing in detail;

FIGURE 3 is a front elevational view or" the apparatus shown in FIGURES1 and 2, the housing for the apparatus being broken away to show theelements within the housing in detail;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view substantially on theline 4-4- of FIGURE 3 and illustrates a control member such as amanually rotatable knob which is included in the apparatus shown in FIG-URES 1, 2 and 3;

FIGURE 5 is a top plan view of apparatus constituting a secondembodiment of the invention with a portion of the housing for theapparatus being broken away to illustrate components within the housingin detail, such apparatus including a plurality of tuning rods fortransmitting signals at individual frequencies to obtain differentcontrols at the remote position;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional vi w of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 5 and istaken substantially on the line 66 of FIGURE 5, the housing for theapparatus being shown in full lines at the right portion of the figure;

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view substantially on the line '7--7 of FIGURE5;

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view substantially on the line 88 of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a front elevational view of apparatus constituting a thirdembodiment of the invention with a portion of the housing for theapparatus being broken away to illustrate components within the housingin detail;

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary top plan view of the embodiment shown inFIGURE 9, with a portion of the housing for the apparatus being brokenaway to illustrate components within the housing in detail;

FIGURE 11 is an enlarged perspective view of a resilient member such asa spring for pivotally holding a tuning rod included in the embodimentshown in FIGURES 9 and 10;

FIGURE 12 is a somewhat schematic front elevational view of apparatusconstituting a fourth embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 13 is a somewhat schematic fragmentary perspective view ofapparatus which may be manually actuated to produce vibrations in thetuning rods shown in the previous figures.

FIGURE 14- is a fragmentary sectional view of a modification in one ofthe members included in the previous embodiments;

FIGURE 15 is a somewhat schematic view of an additional arrangementwhich may be substituted for certain of the members included in theprevious embodiments.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG- URES 1 to 4, inclusive,a first portion of a bracket 16 is fixedly attached as by screws 14 tothe bottom wall 13 of a housing generally indicated at 12. The bracket16' has a second portion 16 substantially perpendicular to the firstportion. A resilient member 18 made from a pliant and elastic materialsuch as sponge rubber is suitably supported on the second portion of thebracket 16. The resilient member 18 is provided with properties toreturn to a particular configuration upon becoming deformed from thisparticular configuration. The resilient member 18 is supported betweenthe portion 16 of the bracket It and a plate 19 disposed in spaced andparallel relationship to the portion 16 of the bracket 1h.

The resilient member 18 is provided with an opening such as acylindrical hole 26. A vibrator such as a tuning rod 22 is disposedwithin the opening 28 and is permanently attached to the resilientmember 18 as by molding the member 13 to the tuning rod 22 or bycementing or gluing the member lib to the tuning rod. The tuning rod 22is bonded to the resilient member 18 at an intermediate position alongthe length of the tuning rod. The tuning rod 22 is bonded to theresilient member 13 so that the material in the resilient member extendsinto pores in the tuning rod along extended lengths around the completeperiphery of the tuning rod. These extended lengths preferably compriseall or a major portion of the periphery of the tuning rod 22. As analternative, they may comprise a plurality of spaced arcs each lextending through a few angular degrees. Under the latter circumstances,the resilient member 18 has a plurality of elastic spokes which extendradially to the periphery of the tuning rod 22 for bondin to the tuningrod.

The tuning rod 22 is preferably provided with a cylindricalconfiguration having an axial length dependent upon the particularfrequency of the signals to be transmitted by the rod. These frequenciesare preferably in the ultrasonic range so as not to interfere with thefidelity of the sound and picture which are obtained from a televisionreceiver when the apparatus shown in FIG- URES l to 4, inclusive, isused to control the operation of the television receiver on a remotebasis. The rod 22 is from a suitable material such as aluminum and isconstructed to produce vibrations in a longitudinal mode. The length ofthe rod 22 preferably corresponds to substantially one-half of a wavelength of the longitudinal vibrations produced in the tuning rod.

A support member 24 is attached to the bottom wall 13 of the housing 12in longitudinally spaced relationship to the bracket It The member 24-supports as at 25 a first end of a resilient member such as a spring 26.The spring 26 preferably constitutes a leaf spring such that the springbecomes pivotally constrained from an initial position of rest upon theexertion of a longitudinal force against the spring and becomes returnedto the position of rest upon the release of this longitudinal force. Itwill be appreciated, however, that other types of springs such as ahelical spring may also be used and that the helical spring may bepivoted in a manner similar to the leaf spring.

A striker 28 is supported by the leaf spring 26 at a position near theupper (or free) end of the spring. The striker 23 is formed from coldrolled steel and is preferably provided with a cylindrical configurationillustratively having an axial length of approximately inch and a radiusof approximately inch. The striker 28 is disposed in facing relationshipto one end of the tuning rod 22 and in slightly spaced relationship tothe tuning rod in the position of rest of the leaf spring 26.

A support block 29 is attached to the bottom wall 13 of the housing 12as by screws SI and a pin 33 is journalled in the support block. Acontrol member such as a manually rotatable knob 3b is mounted on thepin 33 for rotation and is disposed in operatively coupled relationshipto the upper end of the leaf spring 26 to obtain a pivotal constraint ofthe leaf spring in the longitudinal direction. The knob 3t! is shown asextending at least partially through the upper end of the housing 12 andis disposed so that it can be manually rotated in the longitudinaldirection. Preferably, the knob 30 is knurled as at 32 (FIGURE 4) tofacilitate a manual rotation of the knob.

A plurality of actuating portions such as pins 34 extend laterally fromthe side of the knob 3d at angularly spaced positions. The pins 34engage the upper end of the spring 26 upon a rotation of the knob 30 ina counterclockwise direction in FIGURE 1 so as to obtain a pivotalmovement of the spring 26 toward the right in that figure. Although aplurality of pins 34 are shown in FIG- URES 1, 2 and 3, it will beappreciated that only one pin may be used if it should be desired torotate the knob 39 through an angle of 360 for each actuation of thetuning rod 22.

The knob 39 is provided with a plurality of grooves 36 in its periphery.The number of grooves 36 corresponds to the number of pins 34, and thegrooves 35 have an angular spacing corresponding to that of the pins 34.One end of a leaf spring 38 rides along the periphery of the knob so asto enter the grooves 36 as the knob is manually rotated. The other endof the leaf spring 33 is attached as by screws to the bottom wall of thehousing 12. Instead of riding on the periphery of the knob Stl, the freeend of the spring 355 may engage successive ones of the pins 34 as theknob 39 is rotated.

"the knob 3b is manually rotated only in a particular direction such asa counterclockwise direct-ion because of the action of the spring 38. Asthe knob 3b is manually rotated in a counterclockwise direction, the pin34- inabutting relationship to the upper end of the leaf spring aspivots the leaf spring toward the right in FIGURE 1 to produce a pivotalconstraint of the spring. Continued rotation of the knob 3b in thecounterclockwise direction causes the particular pin 34 engaging theupper end of the leaf spring 26 to slide past the leaf spring so thatthe leaf spring becomes released from its pivotal constraint.

When the leaf spring 26 becomes released from its pivotal constraint, itpivots toward the left in FIGURE 1 and causes the striker 2t, to impingeagainst the right end of the tuning rod in that figure. The impactbetween the tuning rod 22 and the striker 23 produces vibrations at theultrasonic frequency in the tuning rod. These vibrations cause signalsto be transmitted from the tuning rod 22 at a frequency related to thefrequency of the vibrations in the tuning rod. The signals are receivedat a unit displaced from the tuning rod 22 so as to control theoperation of a television receiver. For example, the signals are used toautomatically turn the receiver on or 05 or to automatically change thechannel being viewed in the television receiver at any instant.

The vibrations produced in the tuning rod 22, by the impact of thestriker 2% against the tuning rod continue only for a controlled periodof time. This results in part from the natural tendency of thevibrations in the tuning rod 22 to become damped. It also results inpart from the damping action produced as a result of the bonding of theresilient member 18 to the periphery of the timing rod 22 at anintermediate position along the length of the rod. The amount of dumpingcan be controlled either by varying the stiffness of the elasticmaterial constituting the resilient member 22 or by varying the area ofcontact between the tuning rod 22 and the resilient member 18.

The vibrations in the tuning rod 22 continue for a sutficient length oftime, for example, to obtain an advance only from one channel to thenext in the television receiver. Production of the vibrations in thetuning rod 2-2 for an insuflicient length of time prevents an advance ofeven a single channel in the television receiver. Production of thevibrations for an excessive length of time causes the televisionreceiver to be advanced through more than a single channel upon eachproduction of vibrations in the tuning rod 22. This is undesirable sincethe viewer may desire to view the first of the two or more channelsthrough which the channel selector has advanced.

The combination of the resilient member 18 with the tuning rod 22provides certain additional advantages. This results from the fact thatthe permanent bonding between the resilient member 18 and the tuning rod22 does not require that any grooves be produced in the periphery of thetuning red as in the prior art. Since no grooves have to be provided inthe periphery of the tuning rod 22 in the apparatus constituting thisinvention, the frequency of the vibrations in the tuning rod 23 can bepredicted with considerably greater accuracy than in the prior art. Thismeans that the tuning rod 22 in the apparatus constituting thisinvention can be easily produced in comparison to the tuning rods usedin the prior art and can be produced without any necessity of performingsuch esoteric operations as drilling holes of variable depth in thetuning rod to control the frequency of the tuning rod. Since no groovesin the external periphery and no internal holes are produced in thetuning rod 22 in the apparatus constituting this invention, signals ofrelatively great strength are also obtained from the tuning rod.

The knob 3% is rotated through only a particular angular distance eachtime that a remote control is to be provided over the operation of aremote unit such as a television receiver. The rotation of the knob 3ithrough only the particular distance is controlled by the action of thespring 33 in riding on the periphery of the knob 30. The control resultsbecause of the increased force required to operate the knob 3t) when theend of the spring 38 enters one of the grooves 35 in the periphery of"the knob.

The apparatus constituting this invention also has another importantadvantage over the remote control units of the prior art. This resultsfrom the fact that a manual rotation of the knob 36 can be obtainedprimarily by overcoming the force of a single spring such as the leafspring 26. The force of only the leaf spring 26 has to be overcome sincethe leaf spring 38 serves primarily as a. detent member to prevent theknob 3% from rotating in a clockwise direction in FIG- URES 1 and 3.This is in contrast to the use in the prior art of a plurality ofsprings, all of which have had to be driven by a manually movablemember. The ease of operating the knob fail is also facilitated by thefact that the knob has to drive a minimum number of components, theseconstituting the leaf spring 26 and the striker 23. Although the leafspring 38 is also included in the embodiment shown in PiGURES 1 to 4,inclusive, the force exerted by the leaf spring 3% against the manualrotation of the knob 3b is not nearly as great as that exerted by theleaf spring 38. Furthermore, leaf spring 38 is shown only by way ofexample since it will be appreciated that other arrangements forlimiting the rotation of the knob 36) may also be used.

FEGURES 5 to 8, inclusive, illustrate a second embodiment of the remotecontrol unit constituting this invention. This embodiment includes aplurality of tuning rods 160, M2, 104 and 1%, each provided with adiiferent length to vibrate at an individual frequency, preferably inthe ultrasonic range. Each of the tuning rods Mt N2, 1% and 1% isadapted to provide a different control at the remote position. Forexample, the signals transmitted by the tuning rod ltltl are adapted toturn on a television receiver at a position displaced from the tuningrod, and the signals transmitted by the tuning rod 1&2 are adapted toturn off the television receiver.

The signals transmitted by the tuning rods 1M and res may berespectively adapted to advance in the forward and reverse directionsthe particular channel being viewed at any instant. For exampie, signalsfrom the tuning rod 1M may cause the channel being viewed to be changedautomatically from channel 3 to channel 4, and signals from the tuningrod 1% may cause the channel being viewed to become changedautomatically from channel 3 to channel 2. The use of diiferentfrequencies to control the operation of a television receiver on aremote basis is fully described in co-pending application Serial No.803,215, tiled March 31, 1959 by Brian E. Hooper on a Signalling System.

The tuning rods ltltl, ltlZ, 16M- and res are disposed in openings in asingle resilient member res made from an elastic material such as spongerubber. The tuning rods Edi 3332 Mid and tea are bonded to the resilientmember 1% in a manner similar to that described above. Resilient memberssuch as leaf springs 11%, 112, Md and 1 16, respectively, supportstrikers 12%, 12-2, 1'24 and 126, which are disposed in contiguousrelationship to the rods I i-i 162, 54 and res. The relationship betweenthe tuning rods, the leaf springs and the strikers is similar to thatdescribed above for the embodiment shown in FIGURES 1 to 4, inclusive.

A plurality of control members such as manually rotatable knobs 134i,132, 13 i and 136 are respectively disposed to produce a pivotalconstraint of the springs llld, H2, 11 and 116 when the knobs becomerotated in a particular direction such as the counterclockwise directionin FEGURE 4. The knobs 139, 132., 134 and 136 may sor /see 7 have adisposition corresponding to the disposition of the knob 39 in FIGURES lto 4, inclusive.

The knobs 139, 132, 134 and 136 may be respectively provided with bossessuch as indicated at 141 142, 144, and 146. The bosses 141 142, 144 and146 respectively extend laterally from the knobs 130, 132, 134 and 13 6to engage the leaf springs 11%, 112, 114 and 116 and to produce apivotal constraint of the springs as the knobs are manually rotated.Although a plurality of bosses are shown in FIGURE 6 as being providedfor each control knob, it will be appreciated that only a single bosshas to be included on each knob. The knobs and the bosses on the knobsmay be made from a suitable material such as nylon to provide lightweight, long life, easy rotation and a pleasing appearance.

In the embodiment shown inFIGURES 9 to 11, inclusive, a striker 2% maybe included as part of a bracket 292, the bracket in turn being fixedlyattached to the bottom wall of a housing 264 as by screws 206. A tuningrod 203 corresponding to the tuning rod 22 in FIGURES 1 to 4, inclusive,is bonded to a resilient member 210 which is made from an elasticmaterial such as rubber and which may be constructed in a manner similarto the member 18 in FIGURES 1 to 4, inclusive.

The resilient member are is in turn supported by a resilient member suchas a leaf spring generally indicated at 212 and may be disposed betweenthe leaf spring and a plate 213. As may be best seen in FIGURE 11, theleaf spring 212 is provided with a base portion 214 which is providedwith a relatively great lateral dimension and which is attached to thebottom wall of the housing 204 as by screws 216 (FIGURE 9). The leafspring 212 is also provided with a portion 221) of restricted laterialdimensions at a position above the base portion 214 to facilitatepivotal constraints of the leaf spring. The upper portion 222 of thespring 212 has laterial dimensions corresponding to the later-ialdimensions of the base portion 214. An opening such as a hole 226 isprovided in the upper portion 222 of the spring 212 so that the tuningrod can be disposed in the hole. The upper portion 222 of the spring 212is provided with a flange portion 230 which extends forwardly for arelatively short distance from the peripheral edges of the upperportion.

A control member, such as a knob 232, is supported by the housing 264 ina manner similar to that described reviously and is provided with aplurality of actuating members such as pins 234. The pins 234 areadapted to engage the flange portion 231' of the leaf spring 212 toobtain a pivotal constraint of the spring 212 as the knob 232 is rotatedin a counterclockwise direction. Further rotation of the knob 232 in thecounterclockwise direction causes the pin 23 tabutting the spring 212 tomove past the spring 212 so that the spring becomes released from itsposition of pivotal constraint.

When the spring 2 12 becomes released from its posiion of pivotalconstraint, it carries the tuning rod 2&3 toward the left in FTGURE 11so that the tuning rod hits the striker 2%. This causes vibrations to beproduced in the tuning rod 2523 such that signals are transmitted by thetuning rod. The signals are transmitted toward the right in FIGURE 9 andare reflected by a refiector 249 so as to be transmitted toward the leftin FIGURE 9. The reflector 2411 may be provided with a truncatedconfiguration in elevational section, as best seen in FIG- URE 9, or maybe provided with any suitable configuration. By using the truncatedreflector 24-9, the signals from the tuning rod 2% may be transmittedthrough a path indicated in broken lines at 242 in FIGURE 9.

In the embodiment shown in FIGURES l to 4, inclusive, the striker 28 ismoved in a substantially longitudinal direction to produce an impactwith the stationary tuning rod 22. In the embodiment shown in FEGURES 9to '11, inclusive, the tunins rod 2 8 is moved in a subs'tantiallylongitudinaldirection to produce an impact with the stationary strikerIn the embodiment shown in 8 FIGURE 12, a tuning rod (tilt) is pivotedin a substantially vertical direction to hit a striker 3 :12 whenreleased. The tuning rod may be supported by a leaf spring so as to bepivoted upwardly when the spring becomes pivotally constrained byrotating a control member'soch as a star wheel In all the previousembodiments, the manually rotated control member such as the knob 3% inFEGURES l to 4, inclusive, is disposed in a vertical plane. It should beappreciated that the control member may also be disposed in a horizontalplane such as illustrated at 4 h) in FIGURE 13. When the control member4% is disposed in the horizontal plane, a shaft 422 may extend throughthe housing 464 to obtain a rotation of a earn 4%. As will be seen, thecam 41% may be provided with a portion 4th: of progressively increasingdiameter so as to obtain a pivotal constraint of a spring 412 as thecontrol member 4613 is initially rotated in a clockwise direction. Thecam 4% may also be provided with a portion 414 having a sharply recedingconfiguration so as to obtain a release of the spring 412 from theposition or" pivotal constraint as the control member 469 is furtherrotated in the clockwise direction. The spring 412 may carry either astriker or a tuning rod such as described fully above. In the embodimentof the invention shown in FIGURE 13, the spring 412 carries a striker416 into impact with a tuning rod 418 when the spring becomes releasedfrom its position of pivotal constraint.

FIGURE 15 illustrates a modified arrangement for holding a resilientmember generally indicated at and corresponding to the resilient member18 in FIGURES 1 to 4, inclusive. As will be seen, the resilient member500 is in the form of a grommet such that it has two external lipportions 502 and 5114 separated by a groove 5%. The groove 5% in theresilient member 500 receives the edge defining a hole 5118 in theupright portion 514) of a bracket 512. By providing such an arrangement,the resilient member 5% is retained by the bracket without any necessityof including a plate corresponding to the plate 19 in FIGURES l to 4,inclusive, and without any necessity of including studs for holding theplate, the resilient m mber and the bracket in fixed relationship.

As described previously, other arrangements than the spring 38 inFIGURES 1 to 4, inclusive, can be provided for insuring the rotation ofthe knob 39 in the proper direction and for limiting this rotation tothe proper angular value. For example, the arrangement schematicallyshown in FIGURE 15 can be either coupled to the knob 39 or can beincluded in the knob 35} to replace the spring 38 and the grooves 36 inthe knob.

The arrangement shown in FEGURE 14 includes a ball 6% which is rotatablein a pocket 6-82. The pocket 6112 is shaped to obtain a movement of theball 6% in a counter-clockwise direction without wedging the ball. Afterthe ball 6% has been moved to the wall 604, movement of the knob 3-0 inFIGURES l to 4, inclusive, is discontinued so that the ball is able toreturn from the wall 6524 to its position of rest, as indicated inbroken lines at 656 in FIGURE 15.

When the ball is moved in a clockwise direction, however, it becomesquickly wedged against a wall 6% defining the left end of the pocket.This prevents the spring as in FIGURES l to 4, inclusive, from becomingconstrained and subsequently release In this way, the striker 28 cannotimpinge against the tuning rod 22 when the knob 3t} is rotated in acounterclockwise direction.

Although this application has been disclosed and illustrated withreference to particular applications, the principles involved aresusceptible of numerous other applications which will be apparent topersons skilled in the art. The invention is, therefore, to be limitedonly as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Incombination for obtaining a transmission of energy to a removedposition to produce a control effect at the removed position: anelongated member constructed to vibrate at a particular frequency in anelongated mode and provided with a vibrational mode at an intermediateposition in the elon ated direction; a resilient ember made from anelastic material and provided with an opening having dimensionscorresponding to the excessestional configuration of the elongatedmember at the nodal position to provide a tight fit of the elongatedmember Within the opening for extended lengths around the completeperipheries of the elongated member and the opening in the resilientmember, the elongated member being disposed within the opening in theresilient member to provide a homogeneous rel=t onship between theelongated member and the resiii nt member for the extended lengthsaround the complete periphery of the resilient somber; and support meansfor the elongated and resilient members.

2. In combination for obtaining a transmission of energy to a removedposition to produce a control effect at the removed position: supportmeans, an elongated vibrator provided with pores in its periphery andconstructed to vibrate in a longitudinal mode and to transmit signals ata particular frequency in accordance with such vibrations, and a supportmember having rubber-like properties and supported by the support meansand provided with an opening to receive the elongated vibrator, thevibrator being disposed within the opening in the support member and thesupport member being bonded into the pores in the periphery of thevibrator to retain the vibrator within the opening in the supportmember.

3. In combination for obtaining a transmission of energy to a removedposition to produce a control effect at the removed position: supportmeans, a support member made from a rubber-like material and supportedby the support means and provided with an opening in the member, and anelongated vibrator constructed to vibrate at a particular frequency forthe transmission of signals having a frequency related to the frequencyof vibrations, the vibrator being disposed Within the opening in thesupport member and being permanently bonded to the support member in atleast a plurality of spaced positions around the opening in the supportmember.

4. In combination for obtaining a transmission of signals to a removedposition to produce a control effect at the removed position: at leastfirst and second vibrators each having an elongated configuration andmade from a material to provide vibrations in the material upon animpact of the vibrator and provided with dimensions to obtain atransmission of signals at a particular hequency upon the production ofthe vibrations, supporting means, a member supported by the supportingmeans and made from a material having elastic properties and providedWith first and second openings at spaced positions respectively toreceive the first and second vibrators, the vibrators having a press fitin the openings to obtain a firm contact between the member and thevibrators along extended peripheral lengths on each of the vibrators,and means operatively associated with the first and second vibrators forobtaining an impact with the vibrators for the production of vibrationsin the vibrators.

5. in combination for obtaining a transmission of energy to a removedposition to produce a control effect at the removed position: a firstmember constructed to produce vibrations upon an impact with the memberand to obtain a transmission of signals at a particular frequency uponthe production of such vibrations in the member, a second memberdisposed relative to the first member to obtain an impact with the firstmember for the production of vibrations in the first member, a resilientmember pivotable at one end from a position of rest to a position ofconstraint and operatively coupled to a particular one of the first andsecond members to provide a displacement of the particular one of thefirst and second members from the other one of the first and secondmembers in the position of constraint of the resilient member and toprovide an impact between the particnlar one of the first and secondmembers and the other one of the first and second members upon therelease of the resilient member from the position of constraint, acontrol member operetively coupled to the resilient member to obtain apivotal movement of the resilient member to the position of constraintupon an initial mot ment of the control member in a particular directionand to obtain a release of the resilient member from he position ofconstraint upon a subsequent move tent of the control member in theparticular direction, a pocket, and a ball disposed in the pocket andoperatively coupled to the control mom for displacement in the pocket inaccordance with the movements of the control men her, the pocket beingdisposed and shaped to provide for a movement of the ball in the pocketupon a movement of the control member in the particular direction and toproduce a Wedging of the ball in the pocket upon a movement of thecontrol member in a direction opposite to the particular direction for alimiting of the movement of the control member in the direction oppositeto the particular direction.

6. In combination for obtaining a transmission of energy to a removedposition to produce a control eilect at the removed position;

a housing;

support means extending from the housing and made from a material havingelastic properties and provided with an opening at an intermediateposition;

a first member disposed within the housing and extending through theopening in the support means and bonded to the support means andconstructed to obtain a transmission of signals at a particularfrequency upon the imposition of vibrations in the member;

a second member disposed within the housing relative to the first memberto produce vibrations in the first member upon an impingement betweenthe first member and the second member;

resilient means disposed Within the housing and operatively coupled to aparticular one of the firs and second members to obtain a displacementof the particular one of the first and second members from the other oneof the first and second members upon a constraint of the resilient meansto obtain an impingement between the first and second members upon arelease or" the constraint on the resilient means; and

an actuating member extending from the housing for manual actuation andoperatively coupled to the resilient means anud movable from a firstposition through a first distance in a particular direction to obtain aconstraint of the resilient means for a displacement of the particularone of the first and second members from the other one of the first andsecond members and movable through a second dis tance in the particulardirection to a second position to obtain a release of the constraint onthe resilient means for an impingement of the p 'rticular one of theirst and second members the other one of the first and second members,the manually operable member being disposed in the first and secondpositions in the same operative relationship with respect to theresilient ,1 leans upon the release of the constraint on the resilientmeans to obtain a constraint of the resilient means upon the movement ofthe manually operable member through the first distance in theparticular direction from the second position and to obtain a release ofthe constraint on the resilient means upon a finther movement of themanually operable member in the particular direction.

7. In combination for obtaining a transmission or" energy to a removedposition to produce a control effect at the removed position:

a, eases It i a vibrator;

a striker disposed relative to the vibrator to strike the vibrator forthe production of vibrations in the vibrator;

stationary support means;

a support member made from a pliant material and provided with anopening and supported by the stationary support means, the vibratorbeing disposed within the opening in the support member in homogeneousrelationship to the support member, connected at a first end to thesupport means and 0presilient means operatively connected to the strikerat eratively connected at the second end to a particular one end andconnected to the stationary support one of the first and second membersfor movement means at the other end to obtain a constraint of the of theparticular one of the first and second members resilient means and amovement of the striker from from the other one of the first and secondmembers the vibrator in accordance with such constraint and inaccordance with the imposition of a constraint in to produce a strikingof the striker against the resilient the spring and for an impingementbetween the first means upon release of such constraint; and and secondmembers upon a release in the constraint a member movable initially in aparticular direction in the spring; and

from a first position and disposed relative to the rea rotatable knobextending from the housing for manual silient means to obtain aconstraint of the resilient rotation and operatively coupled to thesecond end means upon the initial movement of the member in of thespring to impose a constraint on the spring the particular directionfrom the first position and upon an initial rotation of the knob in afirst angular. movable further in the particular direction to aseedirection from a first position and to obtain a reond position toobtain a release of the constraint lease of the constraint on the springupon avfurther on the resilient means, the first and second positionsrotation of the knob in thefirst angular direction to a of the movablemember relative to the resilient means being substantially identicalupon the release of the constraint on the resilient means.

8. In combination for obtaining a transmission of ontween the firstmember and the second member for the imposition of vibrations in thefirst member;

support means within the housing;

resilient means made from a resilient material and extending from thehousing and disposed in homogeneous relationship with the first memberat the nodal position of the first member to provide a support for thefirst member;

a spring disposed within the housing and operatively second position,the relative disposition of the knob .and the spring in the secondposition of the knob after the release of the constraint on the springcorresponding to the relative disposition of the knob and the spring inthe first position of the knob. 10. In combination for obtaining atransmission of energy to a removed position to produce a control effectat the removed position:

ergy to a removed position to produce a control effect at the removedposition:

an elongated vibrator constructed to vibrate in a longitudinal mode;

a striker disposed relative to the vibrator to strike the structed totransmit signals at a particular frequency upon the imposition ofvibrations in the member and provided with a nodal position;

a second member disposed within the housing relative to the first memberto obtain an impinging action bea housing;

vibrator for the production of vibrations of the vibraa first memberconstructed to produce vibrations upon tor in the longitudinal mode; animpact with the member and to obtain a trance stationary support means;mission of signals at a particular frequency upon a bracket extendingfrom the stationary support means; the occurrence of such vibrations;

a retaining member supported by the bracket and made a second memberdisposed relative to the first member from a pliant material andprovided with an opening to obtain an impact between the first andsecond to receive the vibrator, the vibrator being disposed members forthe production of such vibrations in within the opening in the retainingmember in bonded the first member; relationship to the retaining member;a resilient member fixedly coupled to the housing at resilient meansoperatively connected to the striker at at first end and free forpivotal constraint at a one end and connected to the stationary supportsecond end opposite to the first end and operatively means at the otherend to obtain a constraint of the coupled to a particular one of thefirst and second resilient means and a movement of the striker frommembers at a position between the first and second the vibrator inaccordance with such constraint and ends for displacement of theparticular one of the to produce an impact of the striker against theresilient first and second members from the other one of means upon therelease of such constraint; and 59 the first and second members inaccordance with the a manually movable member directly coupled to therepivotal constraint of the resilient member and for silient means forthe constraint of the resilient means the impact of the particular oneof the first and in accordance with an initial manual movement of secondmembers against the other one of the first the member in a firstdirection through a first particand second members upon the release ofthe pivotal ular distance from a first position and releasableconstraint on the resilient member; and from the resilient means upon asubsequent manual a manually rotatable member and extending partiallymovement of the member in the first direction through through thehousing and disposed within the housing a second particular distance toa second position to directly against the resilient member at the secondobtain a release of the constraint on the resilient end of the resilientmember to obtain a pivotal conmeans, the position of the manuallymovable member 60 straint of the resilient member upon an initial moveinthe second position relative to the resilient memment of the manuallymovable member in a first ber upon the release of the constraint on theresilient direction from a first position and to obtain a remeanscorresponding to the position of the manually lease of the pivotalconstraint on the resilient memmovable member relative to the resilientmeans in the her upon a further movement of the manually movfirst positon. able member in the first direction to a second posi- 9. Incombination for obtainmg a transmission of ention, the manually movablemember being disposed ergy to a removed position to produce a controleffect at in the first and second positions in the same operathe removedposition: tive relationship with respect to the resilient member ahouslng; upon the release of the constraint on the resilient a firstmember disposed Within the housing and conmember.

11. In combination for obtaining a transmission of energy to a removedposition to produce a control effect at the removed position:

a housing; a first member disposed within the housing and con- 13structed to produce vibrations upon an impact with the member and toobtain a transmission of signals at a particular frequency upon theoccurrence of such vibrations;

a second member disposed within the housing relative to the first memberto obtain an impact between the first and second members for theproduction of such vibrations in the first member;

a resilient member disposed within the housing and fixedly coupled tothe housing at a first end and freely pivot-able from a position of restat a second end opposite to the first end and operatively connected to aparticular one of the first and second members at a position near thesecond end of the resilient member for a displacement of the particularone of the first and second members from the other one of the first andsecond members upon a pivotable movement of the second end of theresilient member from the position of rest and for an impact of theparticular one of the first and second members against the other one ofthe first and second members upon a release of the resilient member froma pivotally displaced position to the position of rest;

a control member disposed Within the housing and provided with adisc-like configuration and extending partially through the housing andpivotally coupled to the housing and directly coupled to the resilientmember at the second end of the resilient member to obtain a pivotaldisplacement of the second end of the resilient member from the positionof rest upon an initial rotation of the control member in a particulardirection from a first position and to obtain a release of the resilientmember to the position of rest upon a subsequent rotation of the controlmember in the particular direction to a second position, the relativedispositions of the control member and the resilient member in the firstand second positions being similar upon a release of the resilientmember during the movement of the control member to the second position;and

means disposed within the housing and operativcly coupled to the controlmember to prevent the rotation of the control member in a directionopposite to the particular direction.

12. In combination for obtaining a transmission of energy to a removedposition to produce a control effect at the removed position:

a housing, there being an opening in the housing;

a first member disposed within the housing and constructed to producevibrations upon an impact against the first member and to obtain atransmission of a signal at a particular frequency upon the occurrenceof such vibrations;

at second member disposed within the housing and disposed relative tothe first member to obtain an impact between the first and secondmembers for the production of such vibrations;

a bracket disposed within the housing and fixedly attached to thehousing and provided with an'opening;

retaining means made from an elastic material and disposed within theopening in the bracket and 14; bonded to the first member at anintermediate position along the length of the first member;

a resilient member disposed within the housing and supported by thehousing at a first end thereof and pivotable at a second end opposite tosaid first end and operatively coupled to a particular one of the firstand second members at a position near the second end of the resilientmember for displacement of the particular one of the said first andsecond members from the other one of said first and second members inaccordance with the pivotal constraint or" the resilient member and forthe impact of the particular one of said first and second membersagainst the other one of said first and second members upon the releaseof the pivotal constraint on the resilient member; and

a control member extending through the opening in the housing for manualoperation and disposed in abutting relationship to said second end ofthe resilient member to obtain a pivotal constraint of the resilientmember upon an initial manual operation of the control member in a firstdirection from a first position and to obtain a release of the resilientmember from the control member upon a further manual operation of thecontrol member in said first direction to a second position, thedisposition of the control member relative to the resilient memher insaid first position of the control member corresponding to thedisposition of the control member relative to the resilient member inthe second position of the control member after the release of theresilient member.

13. The combination set forth in claim 6, including, means operativelyassociated with the manually operable actuating member to provide for amovement of the member only in the particular direction.

14. The combination set forth in claim 11 in which an elastic member isprovided with an opening and is fixedly coupled to the housing and inwhich the first member is disposed in the opening in the elastic memherwith a homogeneous relationship between the first member and the elasticmember for extended distances around the complete periphery of theelastic member.

15. The combination set forth in claim 6 in which means are operativelycoupled to the actuating member to prevent the actuating member frommoving in a direction opposite to the particular direction.

References (Zited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS773,646 Iunghans Nov. 1, 1904 875,112 Sanders Dec. 31, 1907 1,243,915Barnes Oct. 23, 1917 1,513,552 Iadarola Oct. 28, 1924 1,720,085 MeyersJuly 9, 1929 1,985,652 Campbell Dec. 25, 1934 2,728,902 White Dec. 27,1955 2,750,920 Tall June 19, 1956 2,821,954 Adler Feb. 4, 1958 2,868,156De Cola Jan. 13, 1959 2,920,604 McDonald Jan. 12, 1960

1. IN COMBINATION FOR OBTAINING A TRANSMISSION OF ENERGY TO A REMOVEDPOSITION TO PRODUCE A CONTROL EFFECT AT THE REMOVED POSITION: ANELONGATED MEMBER CONSTRUCTED TO VIBRATE AT A PARTICULAR FREQUENCY IN ANELONGATED MODE AND PROVIDED WITH A VIBRATIONAL MODE AT AN INTERMEDIATEPOSITION IN THE ELONGATED DIRECTION; A RESILIENT MEMBER MADE FROM ANELASTIC MATERIAL AND PROVIDED WITH AN OPENING HAVING DIMENSIONSCORRESPONDING TO THE CROSS-SECTIONAL CONFIGURATION OF THE ELONGATEDMEMBER AT THE NODAL POSITION TO PROVIDE A TIGHT FIT OF THE ELONGATEDMEMBER WITHIN THE OPENING FOR EXTENDED LENGTHS AROUND THE COMPLETEPERIPHERIES OF THE ELONGATED MEMBER AND THE OPENING IN THE RESILIENTMEMBER, THE ELONGATED MEMBER BEING DISPOSED WITHIN THE OPENING IN THERESILIENT MEMBER TO PROVIDE A HOMOGENEOUS RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THEELONGATED MEMBER AND THE RESILIENT MEMBER FOR THE EXTENDED LENGTHSAROUND THE COMPLETE PERIPHERY OF THE RESILIENT MEMBER; AND SUPPORT MEANSFOR THE ELONGATED AND RESILIENT MEMBERS.